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| YOM
KIPPUR, 5768-2007 Gut Yontiff…Happy New Year…May the coming year bring health, happiness and prosperity to each of you and your families and friends. I admit that I sat at my computer at my office this week, trying to sneak in some “me time” to look at what I might say to all of you this week. It is Yom Kippur and in many congregations across the country and around the world, there is a congregational president or vice president who labored long and hard to come up with the right words to deliver the usual message…we need money….open your pockets, open your checkbooks…write out a big check. Okay, you have now had the message delivered that you would have heard at another congregation. We are not that other congregation or that other community. We are Temple Israel of Dover, NH. Look around you…you don’t see the same people you would see at those other congregations…we are unique….because each of you is unique. Are you aware of what makes us unique? We were officially founded in 1938. I think our official historian, Ann Isacoff can verify through her records that ground was broken for our first home in May, 1938 . Ann has said that on November 13, 1938 there was a procession on congregants through the streets of Dover bringing our Torahs to our first home. Three years ago…the city of Dover once again witnessed a procession of our congregants carrying our Torahs up the driveway to our present home. In 1938 we were affiliated with Orthodox branch of Judaism. Many of our current members would almost consider that affiliation barbaric. In the sixties, we began to outgrow our facilities and we purchased the house at 45 Fourth St in Dover. In 1962…our uniqueness…our searching, our growing ,our evolving brought a change and we affiliated with the Conservative branch of Judaism. We continued to search and change and become more diverse in thought and action, possibly, and found that we were more aligned with the Reform movement so in 1983, we affiliate with UAHC or as it is known today, URJ or Union of Reform Judaism. It has been a very fortunate match because through this affiliation we have been able to have spiritual leaders who accepted and approved and challenged us to be the best we could be…we learned the importance of community, of tikun olam….repairing the world…caring for others….of study….not just until one becomes a bar or bat mitzvah but for a lifetime of study….we learned to appreciate music that sometimes seems foreign, maybe because it is…maybe because we just never really listened to it….but we have gained because of our affiliation with URJ. It has also made it possible to grow to the point that our comfortable 4th Street location was no longer a good match for us. It is sometimes frightening to make changes but we did. Through the generosity of community/congregational members we are able to celebrate our 3rd year in this beautiful location. I cannot help but say a Shehechiyano each time I come up the driveway and see our building….each time it is like the first time and the wonder of it ,pleases me, and amazes me. I am grateful to the Krassner family and to Bruce Samuels for making it all possible. But let’s go back to 1938….there were 20 families in the Dover area that had a dream of Jewish presence on the seacoast. They brought that dream to a reality with the first congregation. That dream was not for the present …not only for them and their needs….but it was a dream for the future that a Jewish presence would continue on the seacoast and grow and thrive. We are their dream…we are their reality. Today we are a community of 120 families. We honor the dream of 70 years ago and promise to keep the dream alive. Your board of trustees will be sending messages to all of you to join us as we celebrate our 70th birthday. To this end….I challenge each family and each friend of Temple Israel to donate $70.00 or multiples of $70….to kick off our celebration. We look forward to having a special celebratory service and special Oneg and be able to donate towards our continuation in this building by burning the loan. Your board of trustees wants very much to burn the building loan agreement within the next 5 years. Over the next several months there will be more information coming on how we anticipate completing that task. Another Bubbe Meiser you say…no….I know we can do it….we are a dedicated community and we are partners….it can be done. When we work together all things are possible. There is some very exciting news about partnering…..Some of you may have met a very special friend of Temple Israels…William Fleece. Bill actually lives in Florida most of the year….I think it’s because he has to keep an eye on his beloved Buccaneers….but Bill spends his summers in York, Me. When he and his wife are in Maine, Bill visits Temple Israel and has come to like the people he has met here and our uniqueness. Bill serves as trustee for the Herman Forbes Foundation which provides grants to Jewish activities and organizations. Bill likes us….and Bill has offered a challenge grant from the Forbes Foundation, to help us “Burn the Loan”. I can see that you are all asking….what is the dollar amount….not so fast….all information in due time. For the time being…introduce yourself to Bill….say thank you…..and prepare to meet the challenge. Bill knows we can do it….he wouldn’t be willing to work with us if he didn’t believe we could….now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and be prepared to join in. Why should we want to burn the loan agreement….makes good business sense would be reason enough….but because it makes ethical and historical sense works too. We have an obligation to pass on to the generations our history…our values …..our ethics….but not necessarily our debts. Look around this area….it is beautiful…..now it’s time to say thank you….thank you to those who had the vision to make this building a reality. Say thank you to Kelly Corson and Gayle Saunders and the landscaping committee who used their vision, their talents to produce a long range plan for planned landscaping for our property….thank you to Craig Stevens for working with the landscaping committee and overseeing the beautiful first step plantings at the roadside and in front of the building ….thank you to the committee for shielding our eyes from the mechanical workings of the building and providing us with an aesthically pleasing view. Remember to say thank you to Marc Weinstein, our building and grounds chair person for making sure we had a clear path to the pond last week for Tashlich….and for making sure the building is kept in good repair. Say thank you to the Sisterhood, the ritual committee, the education committee, the membership committee for providing everything from name tags, to challahs, to friendship, to hugs, to phone calls…..they are the hearts and souls of our community. If you were able to hear the service more clearly this year….say thank you to Glynce Kaplan and the entire Kaplan family and Shirley Lempke for their generous donation to provide an upgrade to our sound system. Say thank you again to Craig Stevens, Steve Brody, and Keith Brody for their expertise in ordering the proper system for our needs and for being able to do the appropriate tweaking to make it work. Say thank you to Rhonda and Adam for allowing us as the TI family to intrude into their family to take Rabbi Karol away for our needs. Say thank you to Jackie Glazier who is the voice of Temple Israel on the phone and in the office. She is helpful, and patient and knows her way around the TI community. Say thank you to the 13 other members of the board of trustees so serve selflessly because they believe in Temple Israel…and tenets of Reform Judaism and want to see our community flourish and prosper so that we can pass it on to our children. Remember to say thank you to Rabbi Karol….who left the comfort of the Midwest to come east and lead us on another journey. It is easy to stay where you are comfortable….but it is brave and courageous to move into the unknown. Rabbi Karol will understand soon enough…that leaving his Kansas City Royals is easier than joining Red Sox Nation….but once you do….you are joined in love my millions who really know what suffering is all about. Thank you from me to all of you….for opening your arms, your hearts and allowing me the honor of working with you to grow our temple community. My original challenge to all of the TI family, still holds….I want each family, to bring in one new family as members over the next two years….when we have something good we have an obligation to share it. From my family to yours….Shana Tova…may you have an easy fast….and happy, healthy year and may we share many happy times together... -- Sharon Brody |
